CH Cup (Cold and Hot Drink)

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a disposable liquid container including an open mouth drinking member, bottom member, side wall member, means for indicating temperature and a lid member. The disposable liquid container provides the advantage of indicating the temperature of beverage inside the container.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

MICROFICHE

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The field of the present invention pertains generally to open mouth drinking vessels with lid member, more particularly to open mouth drinking vessels possessing means of indicating a condition of the contents and most specifically to such drinking vessels further intended for hot beverages possessing a lid member and means for sensing the temperature of the liquid contents.

(2) Background of the Invention

The majority of people in many countries currently enjoy hot beverages such as tea or coffee every day, indeed, this custom has comprised a quotidian aspect to many cultures for centuries. Hot chocolate flavored milk is another example of a popular beverage which is typically sipped from a cup or mug while quite hot.

When hot beverages are purchased for immediate consumption, they are most often sold in a disposable, insulated cup. Because the cup is insulated, it is very difficult for the consumer to know if the beverage is too hot for consumption, unless they feel the contents. Hot beverages, such as coffee or tea, can be served at such a high temperature that they have the potential to scald or burn the mouth, lips or other parts of the body if spilled. A similar situation exists when other liquids or solids are sold or prepared at home in a disposable, insulated cup, such as hot soup or hot chili. The consumer does not know if the contents are too hot to be consumed.

Also, a similar situation exists when the contents of a cup or container are heated in a microwave. The consumer does not know if the contents were heated to an unacceptable level for consumption.

As beverage and food consumption purchased and consumed “on the go” via fast food restaurants and coffee houses continues to rise, the need to inform consumers of the temperature of their beverage or food prior to consumption becomes more important toward eliminating this type of injury, and as a consequence of such, lawsuits and liability issues.

Likewise, as food and beverages are often re-heated in microwaves, the need to identify the temperature of the contents of a cup or container prior to consumption is critical toward eliminating these same injuries, especially as more small children use the microwave.

In prior type of heat sensing and temperature indicating containers the heat sensing and temperature indicating mechanism is rather complicated or it is difficult for kids to understand the temperature indication. Some of the prior type of heat sensing and temperature indicating containers are not cost effective as those contain electronic display and sensing members. A few examples of such are: U.S. Pat. No. 7,798,706 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,925 A, U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,756 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 8,118,189 B2 and U.S. Pat. App. No. US 20020167989 A1.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,798,706 B2 to Cups Unlimited, Llc shows a temperature-indicating container having thermal insulation and a temperature indicator in the side wall or the bottom of the container visible from outside the container. A method for making such a container is also provided.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,925 A to Ian Garmaise & David Garmaise shows a hot beverage mug automatically senses the temperature of its liquid contents and generates an accurate aural and/or visual indication of the temperature sensed. The temperature is sensed by a thermistor in a resistive capacitive (R/C) circuit which operates to yield a signal of variable frequency corresponding to the temperature sensed. An integrated circuit (IC) logic controller treats this electrical signal as an input which triggers a further electrical signal from the IC controller to an aural or visual display generating device such as an annunciator, a light emitting diode (LED), liquid crystal display (LCD) or a simulated voice expressing the temperature sensed. The power for the R/C circuit, the IC and the aural/visual indicator(s) is supplied from a battery and controllable by a switch activated either manually or automatically upon sensing the pressure of the liquid contents or by physical contact with the mug handle.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,756 B1 to Sean Rice shows a cup for indicating temperature of contents thereof and a method of making. The cup includes a body that is cup-shaped and a temperature sensitive strip that is disposed on the body and indicates the temperature of the contents thereof. The body includes an outer cup and an inner cup that is disposed in, and is in intimate contact with, the outer cup. The temperature sensitive strip has a shape and is removably adhered on the longitudinal wall of the inner cup, just above the base thereof. The outer cup has a bore that has a shape, a pair of vertical edges, and extends through the longitudinal wall thereof, just above the base thereof. The shape of the bore matches the shape of the temperature sensitive strip so as to allow the temperature sensitive strip to be viewed through the bore. The longitudinal wall of the outer cup further has a temperature scale thereon that is disposed adjacent both vertical edges of the bore and collaborates with the temperature sensitive strip to indicate the temperature of the contents of the cup.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,118,189 B2 to Cups Unlimited, Llc shows a sleeve with a temperature indicator in or on the side wall thereof, which is visible from outside the sleeve, to convey the temperature of the contents in the container with which it is used. A method for making such a sleeve is also provided.

U.S. Patent Application No. US 20020167989 A1 to Russo Michael L. shows a coffee cup contains a temperature indicating device which informs the user as to whether the liquid within is too hot to comfortably drink, too cold, or otherwise. The temperature-indicating device is thermo-chromic, changing color as a function of temperature. In one embodiment, three segments are printed onto the cup lid using thermo-chromic ink. One of these segments changes color to indicate the liquid is cool, another when the liquid is warm, and a third when hot. In another embodiment, the cup itself is printed with the thermo-chromic ink, and changes color to indicate the temperature of the liquid. In yet another embodiment the material of which the cup and lid are made is itself thermo-chromic.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to disclose a cost effective disposable liquid container heat sensing and temperature indicating means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of containers with temperature indicators present in the prior art, the present invention provides a disposable with temperature indicator and lid. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new disposable liquid container that has all the advantages of the prior art, and none of the disadvantages.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a disposable container for indicating the temperature of beverage inside the container.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide disposable container that indicates the temperature, temperature range, or degree of hotness of the contents therein The container has a temperature sensitive indicator that indicates the temperature, temperature range, or degree of hotness of the contents therein, and can be observed by the consumer by looking at the outside of the container.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an open mouth drinking vessel possessing a handle and intended for use in imbibing a hot beverage, i.e. a mug, possessing the capability of accurately sensing the temperature of the fluid contained therein, ie. the beverage held, further providing an accurate indication of the temperature sensed which is comprehensible without reading a scale.

Another general objective of the present invention is to provide a device or means to display the temperature of a liquid contained within a drinking cup. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a cup intended for containing liquids has a lid having a temperature-indicating device attached.

Each aspect of the present invention provides the advantage of indicating the temperature of beverage inside the container.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows the side view of the disposable liquid container in an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the side view of the disposable liquid container with lid in an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows the top view of the lid in an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 shows the side view of the lid in an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that the embodiments may be combined, or that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural and logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the figures, and in particular FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show embodiment of different components of the disposable liquid container.

FIG. 1 shows the side view of disposable liquid container including an open mouth drinking vessel 01, a bottom member 03, side wall member 02 and means for indicating temperature 04. Further side wall member 02 comprises a thermally conductive section 07.

FIG. 2 shows the side view of disposable liquid container including a lid member 05, the bottom member 03 and the side wall member 02.

FIG. 3 shows the top view of the lid member 05 including an opening for drinking beverage 06 from the container.

FIG. 4 shows the side view of the lid member 05.

In general present invention provides a temperature-indicating container that is safe to use with hot liquids, sufficiently accurate in measuring the temperature of the liquid inside the container and is easy and inexpensive to produce, making it possible for this container to be disposable. This is achieved by placing a thermal indicator in the side wall or bottom of the container, either in thermal contact with a liquid or in thermal contact with a thermally conducting part of the side wall or bottom. The thermal indicator, such as a thermometer, may be placed in the opening of the thermally insulated part of the side wall, so that it is visible from outside the container.

In general the present invention provides the disposable liquid container including the open mouth drinking member 01, the bottom member 03, the side wall member 02 and means for indicating temperature 04.

In an embodiment the present invention provides the disposable liquid container including the open mouth drinking member 01, the bottom member 03, the side wall member 02 and the means for indicating temperature 04. Further in this embodiment of the present invention the side wall member 02 includes a thermally conductive section 07 and the means for indicating temperature 04 is located on thermally conductive section 07 of the side wall member.

In another embodiment the present invention provides the disposable liquid container including the open mouth drinking member 01, the bottom member 03, the side wall member 02, the lid member 05 and the means for indicating temperature 04. Further in this embodiment of the present invention the lid member 05 includes an opening 06 for drinking beverage from the disposable liquid container.

In another embodiment the present invention provides the disposable liquid container including the open mouth drinking member 01, the bottom member 03, the side wall member 02 and the lid member 05. In this embodiment of the present invention the members of the container are made of heat insulating materials.

In another embodiment the present invention provides the disposable liquid container including the open mouth drinking member 01, the bottom member 03, the side wall member 02, the lid member 05 and the mean for indicating temperature 04. In this embodiment of the present invention the mean for indicating temperature 04 is made of thermo-chromic material and located on the thermally conductive section 07 of the side wall member 02.

In one of the most proffered embodiment the present invention provides a conical disposable liquid container including the open mouth drinking member 01, the bottom member 03. The side wall member 02, the mean for indicating temperature and the lid member 05. In this particular embodiment of the present invention the side wall member 02 further includes the thermally conductive section 07 for attaching the means for indicating temperature 04. In this particular embodiment of the present invention the lid member includes the opening 06 for drinking beverage from the disposable liquid container. In this particular embodiment of the present invention diameter of the bottom member 03 is lesser than the diameter of the open mouth drinking member 01. In this particular embodiment of the present invention the members of the disposable liquid container are made of heat insulating material selected from the group of plastic, paper, polymers or combination thereof. Further in this particular embodiment of the present invention the means for indicating temperature 04 is thermo-chromic material and selected from the group of thermo-chromic pigments, temperature sensitive glass, thermo-chromic films and combination thereof.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention the height of the disposable liquid container is 4.0″, diameter of the bottom member 03 is 2.0″, diameter of the open mouth drinking member 01 is 3.5″ and the means for indicating temperature 04 is made of thermo-chromic pigments.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention the height of the disposable liquid container is 5.0″, diameter of the bottom member 03 is 2.0″, diameter of the open mouth drinking member 01 is 3.5″ and the means for indicating temperature 04 is made of temperature sensitive glass.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention the height of the disposable liquid container is 6.0″, diameter of the bottom member 03 is 2.0″, diameter of the open mouth drinking member 01 is 3.5″ and the means for indicating temperature 04 is made of thermo-chromic film.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-discussed embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.

While the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it should be understood that the embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Many variations, modifications, additions and improvements to the embodiments described above are possible. It is contemplated that these variations, modifications, additions and improvements fall within the scope of the invention. 

1. A disposable liquid container, comprising: a) an open mouth drinking member at a top of the container; b) a bottom member; c) a side wall member; and d) a lid member, wherein the side wall member contains a vertically extending thermally conductive section, said section having no contact to the bottom member or to the top of the container, and a thermal indicator locating on the thermally conductive section.
 2. A disposable liquid container according the claim 1, wherein the container is conical in shape.
 3. (canceled)
 4. A disposable liquid container according the claim 1, wherein the bottom member is made of heat insulating material.
 5. A disposable liquid container according the claim 1, wherein diameter of the bottom member is lesser than the diameter of the open mouth drinking member.
 6. A disposable liquid container according the claim 1, wherein the side wall member is made of heat insulating material.
 7. (canceled)
 8. A disposable liquid container according the claim 1, wherein the heat conducting section is nontoxic.
 9. (canceled)
 10. A disposable liquid container according the claim 1, wherein the thermal indicator is of thermo-chromic material.
 11. A disposable liquid container according the claim 1, wherein the lid member is made of heat insulating material.
 12. A disposable liquid container according the claim 11, wherein the lid member comprises of an opening for drinking beverage from the container.
 13. A disposable liquid container according the claim 1, wherein the members of the container are made of nontoxic material.
 14. The disposable liquid container of claim 10, wherein thermo-chromic material is selected from the group of thermo-chromic pigments, temperature sensitive glass, thermo-chromic films and combination thereof.
 15. A disposable liquid container having a bottom, a wall and a lid, and being made of insulating disposable material, wherein the wall contains a thermosensitive vertical strip having a length smaller than height of the wall, and a thermal indicator attached on the thermosensitive strip.
 16. The disposable liquid container of claim 15, wherein the thermal indicator is made of thermo-chromic material and it indicates a temperature range or a degree of hotness of liquid inside the container.
 17. The disposable liquid container of claim 16, wherein the thermal indicator is a thermo-chromic film. 